Pressure control head



Aug. 16, 1932. BLACK 1,872,105

PRESSURE CONTROL HEAD Filed Dec. 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16, 1932. BLACK 1,872,105

PRESSURE CONTROL HEAD Filed Dec. 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 PATENT OFFICE LEE 3'. BLACK, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS PRESSURE CONTROL HEAD Application filed December 18, 1930. .Serial No. 503,297.

This invention relates to pressure control heads for oil and gas wells and the general objcct is to provide a pressure control head which is so constructed that a smaller string of pipe may be run into the larger casing and the well flowed through this smaller string. This conserves the natural pressure on the well, reduces the flow by reducing the area of the pipe through which the well flows 1' and secures a consequent reduction in volume of the fluid or gas produced. This permits a company to keep the greatest number of wells on its lines by reducing the volume of output from each wellin proportion to the amount of gas each well willproduce.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character which may be, readily installed, which will providelateral control outlets and means for supporting the upper control gate through which the smaller string of pipe passes into the well casing and provides means whereby the well may be completely sealed in case it should attempt to run wild.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character which will provide side outlets which will connect up to lines leading away from the well and which will control upward flow outwardly of the smaller string of pipe, thus eliminating to a certain extent danger to workmen and fire hazard caused by friction of sand or other abrasive materials against the upstanding pipe, the derrick or other equipment.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the 'accom panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a control head constructed in accordance with my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the control head and a portion of the well casing;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the wedges;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the packing sections.

Referring to these drawings, A designates an ordinary well casing upon the upper end of which is disposed lower cross T 10. This has screw-threaded engagement at its lower end with the well casing and is formedrwith the lateral outlet openings 11 screw-threaded for engagement with outlet pipes 12 passage through which is controlled by ordinary control valves shown diagrammatically in Figure 2.

This lower cross T 10 is also formed upon its upper end with a central passage 12 and with the upwardly extending annular flange 13. Engaging this flange is the annular body 14 and engaging the upper end of the annular body is the downwardly extending flange 15 of a second or upper cross T designated generally 16 and constructed in the same manneras the cross T 10 and provided with the lateral outlets 16 and with the centrally dis posed interiorly screw-threaded hub 18 to which the body of a control gate valve C may be engaged.

The body 14 is formed inwardly of its outer wall with a wall 19 extending downward and centrally to the middle of the body and then downwardly and outwardly as at 19. This wall formed of the portions 19 and 19 is connected to the outer wall of the body 14 by means of the annular web 20. The upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 19 of the inner wall is longitudinally slotted upward from the middle of the-portion 19 to the top thereof 21. Disposed to slide against the outer face of the wall 19 are racks 22 which extend upward and outward, each of these racks at its upper end being inwardly extended to form an arm 23 extending into the space between the inner face of the portion 19 and the inner string of tubing or well pipe designated B. This arm at its inner end is arcuately extended and carries upon it a plurality of slips or wedges 24 held in place by bolts 25. It will be obvious now that the slips or wedges 24 may be raised up the inclined outer face of the portion 19 or lowered. When they are raised, they will be shifted outward and when they are lowered, they will be shifted inward and'will have wedging engagement between the pipe B and the inner face of the wall 19.

The two racks 22 are shifted each by a pinion 26 mounted upon a shaft 27. This shaft extends transversely through the body as shown in Figure 3. The shaft is supported by passing through a junk ring 28. Inward of this junk ring and disposed within the gland 29 which receives the junk ring and the shaft is packing 30 and outward of the junk ring there is the screw gland 31, which has screw-threaded engagement with the wall of the passage 29. This screw gland has a manysided head 32 whereby it may be rotated to compress the junk ring against the packing. It will be understood that each shaft 2'? is supported at its opposite ends within a screw gland 31, the junk ring 28 and the packing 30, thus preventing any possible leakage of oil out past the shaft 27. Each shaft may be provided with a removable handle 33 whereby the shaft may be manipulated or the handle may be transferable from one of the shafts to. the other. Any suitable means may be used for rotating these shafts. It will be obvious that when the shafts are rotated in one direction, the wedges will be shifted upward and when rotated in the other direction, the wedges will be shifted downward.

The web or wall 19 is inclined downward and outward and is formed at diametrically opposite points with the slots 34. Disposed between the tubing B and this downwardly and outwardly inclined wall or web 19 are the arcuate packing sections 35 preferably made of rubber or like equivalent compressible material, each of these packing sections at its lower end being formed with aplurality of radial slots 36 by which bolts 37 may be inserted, the shanks of the bolts extending downward from the lower ends of the packing sections and being engaged with an areaate head or flange 38 having a shank extending through the slot 34 and connected to an upwardly and inwardly inclined rack 39.

These two racks are engaged by the oppositely disposed pinions 40 mounted upon the shafts 41, the shafts extending out through packing members as previously described for the shafts 27. These shafts 41 may be operated by means of handles 42.

The upper cross T 16 has outlet pipes 43 engaged with the outlet openings 17. These outlet pipes are provided with control valves (see Figure 1). The lower T 10 is also provided with the outlet pipes 12 as previously referred to provided with control valves.

The assembly will be made up complete as illustrated in Figure 1 with the length of tubing B disposed in the assemblyr The cross T 10 is then attached to the main casing A of the well above the master gate thereof. The control gates are then put upon the side outlet pipes 12 in the cross T 10 andupon the side outlet pipes 43 in cross T 16 and an upper control gate C is installed on the top of cross T 16, this control gate being connected to the interior of the crossT16 by thescrewthreads 18. The master gate on the main casing below the cross T10 is now opened. The side outlet gates on the outlets 12 are opened and thus lines are provided to take the flow of gas or oil to a distance away from the crew and derrick. In order to run the inside string of pipe B against the pressure in the well, additional joints of tubing are added to the string and lowered through the control gate, this control gate being disposed above the cross T 16. The control gate at the top being open, the packing elements 35 are set lightly upon the outside tubing B, not suliiciently however as to prevent the tubing being lowered. The tubing is then lowered down, sliding through packing element 35 until the tubing coupling 6 reaches the upper control gate.

Then the wedges or slips 24 are brought down around the tubing B preventing it from dropping. This operation is repeated until the entire string of tubing has been run into the hole. When the coupling 1) on the tubing reaches the packing element 35, the packing element is dropped downward and thus out of the way of the coupling 6 until the cou pling has passed this packing element. Then it is reset against the body of the tubing.

hould the well attempt to go wild, the tubing coupling can be lowered below the upper gate and the slips or wedges 24 inthe upper part of the body set up. The packing ele- 1 ment 33 can also be set uparound the body of the tubing tightly, the upper control valve closed, and the side outlets can be closed and the well completely sealed, or one or more of the side outlet valves can be opened and the well allowed to flow at the will of the operator. Because of the fact that the side outlets 11 and 17 are connected up to lines leading away from the well, it is possible by passing the flow out through these lines and controlling the upward flow by the packing element 35 to limit to a certain extent the danger to workmen and the consequent fire down out of engagement when the operating 1 lever is removed. It is also pointed out there will be no leaks around the body from any of the connections or around the shaft 10 because of the packing elements '29 surrounding the shafts 27 and 41.

T 16 attached to the body 14. This wholeassembly can be attached to the casing above.

k My structure is capable of being made up with the lower cross-T 10 and the upper cross slips around the tubing, unscrew the uppere tubing from the collar 6 set up the packing element 35 and the operator'will have complete control of the well. Inasmuch as the side outlets from both the upper and the lower cross Ts with their flow lines have already been made up and are in place it is only necessary to flow between the tubing B and the casing A by closing the upper side.

outlets and the upper control gate. The pressure between the tubingiizimd the casing will then firmly seat the pac ngelement around the tubing. If the operator desires to flow through the tubing, however, the side outlet gates on the upper cross T 16 are opened and the outlet gates on the lower cross T closed and this will direct the fluid up through the tubing, but it doesnot in any way relieve the pressure on the lower end of the packing element. i

Therefore, it will remain in place shutting ofi the flow between the two strings of pipes. To illustrate the value of my mechanism, it will be seen that it is possible that a well might be capable of producing fifty million cubic feet of gasper day with a six inch casing at 800 lbs. rock pressure. By running into the six inch casing a two inch string of tubing such as the tubing B, the well would produce say five million cubic feet a day at 800 lb. rock pressure. Thus by reducing the volume, the rock pressure would hold up for a longer period of time, making it unnecessary to install booster pumps on the main lines for moving the gas as long as the initial pressure remained suficient to drive the gas through the lines. This would save the cost of booster stations as well as the cost of maintenance and operation. It will thus be seen that it is important that when gas wells are brought in, that they be tubed in with a smaller diameter tubing, to conserve this natural pressure and my mechanism provides for this tubing of the well.

It will be seen that l have provided a complete installation which may be connected up and tested before running the inner string of pipe, this installation having both a packing means and a supporting means, no part of which has to be removed to pass the coupling Should the well go 'wild through the on the inner string of pipe. This structure is primarily designed to comply with the conservation laws of the diiferent States, requiring the oil and gas ratio to be kept at the point where the largest possible production of oil can be had by the use of the smallest possible amount of the gas naturally in the stands to thus insure the least possible waste of the natural resources; To comply with this law it is often necessary to tube a flowing oil or gas well under pressure with a small diameter pipe as before stated. To do this the lower cross T is attached to the main casing above the master gate while this gate valve is closed and the well shut off. Side outlet valves are placed and flow lines connected up to the tanks for the reception pf oil. To this T 10 is attached the body 14 with a packing element in one end and the supporting element in the other end. To the body 14 is attached the upper cross T 16 and side outlet valves are placed and flow lines connected up'leading to tanks to. save the oil. This assembly is shown complete in my Figure 1, valve C being placed upon the upper end of the cross T 16. By closing of the valves on the assembly. and opening the master gate (not shown), the complete assembly can be tested under pressure for any leaks before starting to run the inner. string of tubing.

Nothing has to be removed or added to the structure shown in Figure 2 in order to run the inner string. If the well develops a continuous flow and it is desirable to cease the operation for aiperiod of time, all that the operator has to do is to set the string of tubing on the supporting means 24 with the cou pllng b on the pipe B below the'control gate C. This gate can then be closed and the well sealed up and allowed to flow through the side outlets, the flow being directed by the sealing element 35 either through the tubing already installed and the upperoutlet T with thepipes 43 or from between the tubing already installed or from between the two strings of pipe A and B and through the lower outlet T and its pipes When the well dies down, the operator can resume running or lowering the tubing B at the point where he left off by the simple operation of opening the control valve C. Oftentimes the agitation caused by running tubing into a well causes a well to develop continuous flow and in that case operations are suspended for an indefinite period and until the well ceases its continuous flow before the job can be finished. This structure is particularly designed to care for cases of this kind.

While I have illustrated a construction whose details are believed to be effective, I do not wish to be limited thereto as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made without departing from the spirit of the 1nvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A control head for oil wells comprising a cylindrical body having an upper and a lower cross T having outlets, each "5 having a central opening into the body for the passage of a string of tubing, tubing supporting wedges disposed in the upper portion of the body, the body being formed with a downwardly and centrally inclined surface against which the wedges operate, means operable from the exterior of the body for vertically shifting said wedges against said inclined surface to thereby carry the-wedges downward and into engagement with the tubing or upward and out of engagement therewith, upwardly tapering packing disposed in the lower portion of said body, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface formed upon the body and with which the packing engages, there being a transverse wall in the body intersecting said surfaces at their juncture and supporting said surfaces, and means operable from the exteriorof the body for shifting said packing downward and away from the tubing or upward and into engagement with the tubing, the central opening in the top of the lower cross being sufieiently larger than the tubing to permit liquid under pressure to move up into the lower end of said body and bear against said packing to urge the packing upward.

2. A control head for oil wells comprising a cylindrical body, an upper and a lower cross T having outlets, each T having a central opening for the passage of a tubing string and appreciably larger than the string designed to pass therethrough, the body having an inner wall concentric to the central axis of the body, the wall extending inward and downward from the upper end of the body and then downward and outward toward the lower end of the body, wedges fitting against the face of the upper portion of the wall, upwardly tapering packing disposed against the inner face of the lower portion of the wall, means operable from the exterior of the body whereby said wedges may be shifted vertically, and means operable fromthe exterior oft-he body whereby said packing may be' shifted vertically.

3. A control head for oil wells comprising a cylindrical body, an upper and a lower cross T having outlets and each having a central opening for the passage of a tubing string, the opening being appreciably larger than the tubing, the body having an inner wall concentric to the axis of the body, the wall extending inward and downward from the upper end of the body and then downward and outward toward the lower end thereof, there being a horizontal web connecting the exterior wall of the body with the middle of the interior wall, the interior wall at 1ts upper end and at diametrically oppos1te points being vertically slotted, two

i erates tending transversely through the body and having a pinion engaging said rack, means for packing said shaft, the shaft being capable of manual rotation, the lower portion of the inner wall having two diametrically opposed upwardly extending slots, two sets of packing members disposed between the downwardly and outwardly inclined wall and the tubing, members supporting said packing members and having shanks extending out through the last named slots, the shanks carrying upwardly inclined racks, shafts extending into the body and each carrying a pinion engaging with the correspondin rack, means for packing said shafts, and means whereby the shafts may be manually operated. i

4. A control head for oil wells comprising a body havnig an upper and a lower cross T having outlets, each '4" having a central opening into the body for the passage of a string of tubing, tubing supporting wedges disposed in the upper portion of the body below the upper cross T, the body being formed with an upper compartment having a downwardly and centrally inclined annular wall against which the wedges operate, means operable from the exterior of the body for vertically shifting said wedges against said inclined wall to thereby carry the wedges downward and into engagement with the tubing or upward and out of engagement therewith, upwardly tapering packing disposed in the lower portion of said body below said upper compartment, the body being formed with a downwardly and outwardly inclined annular wall with which the packing engages, and means operable from the exterior of the body for shiftingsaid packing downward and away from the tubing or upward and into engagement with the tubing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEE J. BLACK. 

